Mountain lions, also known as cougars or pumas (Puma concolor), are not considered to have an established, self-sustaining breeding population within New Hampshire today. While a solitary animal might pass through, the species is classified as extirpated from the region, meaning the native population was eliminated long ago. This status is based on a consistent lack of biological evidence indicating a permanent presence.
The Official Status of Mountain Lions in New Hampshire
The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department (NHF&G) maintains that there is no verifiable physical evidence of a resident mountain lion population. An established population requires confirmed breeding activity, such as the presence of females, kittens, or sustained track patterns, which has not been found in the state. NHF&G relies on concrete proof to confirm any sighting, including DNA analysis from scat or hair, clear photographs, or verifiable tracks.
The rare confirmed presence of a mountain lion in the Northeast is almost exclusively a transient male dispersing from established Western populations. These young males can travel vast distances searching for new territory. One notable example was a male that traveled from South Dakota to Connecticut.
Historical Presence and Extirpation
Mountain lions were once native to New Hampshire and the rest of New England, belonging to the now-extinct subspecies known as the Eastern Cougar (Puma concolor couguar). Historical records show that these large predators, often referred to as “catamounts” by early settlers, were a part of the state’s natural history.
The primary factors leading to their local extinction, or extirpation, were intense hunting pressure and widespread habitat destruction throughout the 18th and 19th centuries. Settlers viewed the cats as a threat to livestock and a competitor for game, leading to the establishment of government-sponsored bounties. The widespread clearing of forests for agriculture further fragmented their habitat and reduced their primary prey base, white-tailed deer.
The last confirmed mountain lion killed in New Hampshire was documented around the late 1800s. One account places the last documented kill in the town of Lee in 1853. After that time, the native population was considered functionally extinct in the state.
Understanding Reported Sightings and Misidentification
Despite the official status, the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department receives numerous anecdotal reports of mountain lion sightings every year, fueling public interest and debate. The vast majority of these reports, however, are cases of misidentification. The animals most commonly mistaken for the cougar are often other, more common medium to large mammals.
A large bobcat, with its stocky build and mottled fur, is the most frequent culprit, especially when seen from a distance or in low light. Other animals like domestic dogs, coyotes, and even fishers have been mistakenly identified as mountain lions. The distinct long, thick tail of a mountain lion is a key identifying characteristic that is often misremembered or incorrectly perceived in a fleeting observation.
Verification requires indisputable physical evidence, including high-quality photographs, confirmed tracks that show the large, asymmetrical pads and lack of claw marks, or a genetic sample like scat or hair. In almost every case where a physical sample has been submitted to NHF&G following a sighting, DNA analysis has confirmed the material belongs to a bobcat, domestic dog, or coyote.